Where does “groundhopper” come from?

groundhopper (English) comes from English Hopper, from Middle English hoppere, from Old English hoppa, from English -er, from Middle English -er, from Old French -er, from Latin -āre, from Proto-Italic -āō — he, she.

groundhopper (English): A small insect, of the genus Tetrix, similar to a...

Definitions

  1. A small insect, of the genus Tetrix, similar to a...

Ancestry of “groundhopper”, step by step

groundhopper traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Hopper

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHopperOne who or that which hops
2Middle Englishhoppere
3Old Englishhoppaone who hops, hopper; hopper
4English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
5Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
6Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
7Latin-ārefirst conjugation
8Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
9Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
10Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
11Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
12Chichewaiyehe, she

via English ground

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgroundThe surface of the Earth, as opposed to the sky...
2Middle Englishgroundground; Earth
3Old Englishgrundground; bottom, foundation; abyss, depths
4Proto-Germanicgrunduzground, foundation
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʰrem-to be angry; to sound, bellow, growl, roar, be...
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰer-to rub; to stroke; to grind
Every word from Chichewa iye
groundhopper — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer